Medicare Advantage Plans, sometimes called “Part C” or “MA Plans,” are an “all in one” alternative to Original Medicare. They are offered by private companies approved by Medicare.
If you join a Medicare Advantage Plan, you still have Medicare. These “bundled” plans include Medicare Part A (Hospital Insurance) and Medicare Part B (Medical Insurance), and usually Medicare prescription drug (Part D) Medicare Advantage Plans cover all Medicare services. Some Medicare Advantage Plans also offer extra coverage, like vision, hearing and dental coverage.
Medicare pays a fixed amount for your care each month to the companies offering Medicare Advantage Plans. These companies must follow rules set by Medicare. Each Medicare Advantage Plan can charge different out-of-pocket costs. They can also have different rules for how you get services, like:
- Whether you need a referral to see a specialist.
- If you have to go to doctors, facilities, or suppliers that belong to the plan for non-emergency or non-urgent care These rules can change each year.